How to repair damaged hair

It won’t hold its style, it's got no volume, and it's dry as a bone—damaged hair can be stubborn, unruly and a real pain to tame. But it's a mixture of environment, heat styling and just your regular hair regime that leads to brittle locks, which means there are ways to reverse those bad habits and help fix dry hair. See below for our favourite tips on how to repair damaged hair.

1. Defend against the elements

Your poor hair takes a daily beating from the elements. Excessive exposure to sunlight, wind and rain can result in dryness that, if left unchecked, may lead to breakage. So give your hair a little extra protection by conditioning it once a week with an intensive mask or oil treatment, like TRESemmé Platinum Strength Deep conditioning treatment. This will help nourish your strands from within for stronger-feeling, healthy-looking hair.

2. Protect from heat styling

Blow dryers, flat irons, curling tongs—all must-have styling tools, right? But did you know they can reach temperatures of up to 232°C? So, it's hardly surprising that these can leave your hair dry and damaged. That's where heat protection sprays come in: apply TRESemmé Heat Defence spray on damp hair before blow drying, and again on dry tresses before using heated styling tools. They create a barrier to help protect hair from harsh temperatures and keep it looking soft and shiny.

3. Calm down when combing

Did you know that hair is weakest when wet? It feels like the obvious time to brush hair thoroughly, but repeated, vigorous combing can cause damage to the hair's cuticle, which can cause split ends and breakage. To help protect against this, comb hair in the shower after applying conditioner—it'll coat your hair strands and act like a barrier, making it easier to work through knots and tangles. Opt for brushes with widely-spaced plastic bristles or wide tooth combs—they give strands more space to move through, meaning it doesn't take so much force to detangle them—and work gently through hair in sections.

4. Care for coloured hair

Colour is a great way to mix up your style and try out something new—but as with any chemical treatment, it can cause damage and dryness, making it more difficult to maintain silky and volume. To help replenish moisture and maintain the vibrancy of coloured hair, you'll need to reinforce its natural protective layer using a wash and care system specially formulated for dyed locks. This will target dryness and damage from hair dyeing, helping to nourish your hair and keep locks looking healthy.

5. No need for excessive washing

There's nothing quite like the feeling of freshly washed hair, but repeated washing can strip your strands of moisture, causing it to become dry and brittle. Try to wash your hair less frequently by using a dry shampoo in between washes – it'll help absorb oils and eliminate odour for hair that looks and feels freshly washed. And when you do need to wash your tresses, it's wise to choose a shampoo which gently cleanses and moisturises your mane, like the TRESemmé Moisture Rich Shampoo & Conditioner system: it targets dryness and helps add moisture where your hair needs it most.

So if you're constantly asking yourself "why is my hair so dry?" the answer's probably in your routine. Keep these simple tips in mind to know how to fix damaged hair and get ready to welcome strong-feeling, healthy-looking locks!